Curriculum for Majors

Current Requirements: 40 credits

4 credits from courses numbered 130-134
4 credits of English 243: Literary Theory & Criticism
4 credits of English 311: Writing Essays
4 credits of course work in each of the following clusters:
      Literature & Literary History
      Theory & Culture
      Capstone
At least 16 credits in electives

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Additional Requirements: (Credits from the above list may fulfill these requirements)

At least 16 credits must be in upper-division courses
At least 4 credits must be in a course in which a major subject of study is poetry
At least 4 credits of courses in the major must be in literature before 1800
At least 16 credits must be in literature courses

Special Requirements:

Students may apply only one (1) course from 130-134 toward the major
Students must have sophomore standing to enroll in 300-level courses.

100 level Courses

The department of English offers a variety of 100-level courses in order to introduce students to critical reading skills, analytical thinking, and competent writing.  Students have the opportunity to learn methods for understanding literary genres, history, interpretive theory, and the crafts of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Faculty members are committed to both the traditional canon of literature and to expansion of the traditional canon through attention to the literatures of women, minorities, and non-Western cultures.  Faculty members usually supplement the study of literary texts with consideration of other cultural forms; examples might include paintings, photography, music, film, video, popular culture, and significant texts from other fields, including history, philosophy, psychology, and the social sciences.  Course content will vary from course to course. Consult the English Department's Course Description Booklet for a description of each semester's offerings.

130 Reading Fiction.
131 Reading Poetry.
132 Reading Drama.
133 Reading Fiction and Poetry.
134 Reading: Special Topics.

Writing Courses

211 Writing Well.  (4)
Practice in writing for various audiences and in a variety of nonfiction forms.  Attention to grammar, mechanics, paragraph development, etc.  Prerequisite: completion of First-Year Symposium.  Every semester.

213 Seminar in Creative Writing.  (4)
Workshop/seminar in the principles and techniques of writing any two genres, such as short fiction, poetry, mixed genres, and creative non-fiction prose.  Consult the English Department Course Description Booklet for a specific description of each semester's offering.  Every semester.

220 Topics in Research. (4)
An intensive study of research methods focusing upon a specific topic within the literary discipling.  Spring.

311 Writing Essays.  (4)
Theory and practice of writing longer nonfiction forms (essays, articles) dealing with complex subject matter.  Study of the rhetorical strategies used in non-technical writing drawn from a variety of disciplines. Concentration on development of the student writer's voice and style.  Prerequisite: completion of First-Year Symposium and Junior standing.  Every semester.

313 Advanced Seminar in Creative Writing.  (4)
Advanced workshop/seminar in a particular genre such as poetry, fiction, mixed genres, or creative non-fiction prose.  Consult the English Department Course Description Booklet for a specific description of each semester's offering.  Every semester.

315 Writing: Special Topics.  (4)
Theory and practice of writing special genres such as biography or memoir that are normally not included in other writing courses or workshop/seminar in editing and publishing, business writing, technical writing, etc.  See the English Department Course Description Booklet for a description of a specific semester's offering.  This course may also be cross-listed with writing courses in other disciplines.  Offered irregularly.

Literature & Literary History

283 Western Literature in Translation: Ancient Greece to the Medieval Period.  (4)
Writings from the past, with emphasis on biblical and classical works and literature of the medieval West. Fall.

284 Western Literature in Translation: Renaissance to the Present.  (4)
Reading and analysis of Renaissance and modern literature in translation.  Spring.

325 Studies in Drama.  (4)
Study of plays related to one another by theme, historic or national provenance, subgenre, or by some other significant connection.  Prerequisites vary according to the plays covered.  Offered irregularly.

341 Studies in British Literature to 1700.  (4)
Course offerings under this title might be organized by theme, by historical-period, by region, or by genre. See English Department Course Description Booklet for specific titles and descriptions.  Fall.

342 Studies in British Literature after 1700.  (4)
Course offerings under this title might be organized by theme, by historical-period, by region, or by genre. See English Department Course Description Booklet for specific titles and descriptions.  Spring.

346 American Literature to 1865.  (4)
Reading and analysis of prose and poetry from Colonial times to the Civil War.  Fall.

347 American Literature after 1865.  (4)
Reading and analysis of prose and poetry from the Civil War to about 1920.  Spring.

351 Chaucer.  (4)
The Canterbury Tales and other works in the literary and social context of the fourteenth century.  Fall or Spring.  Prerequisite: fulfillment of HML literature.

352 Shakespeare.  (4)
Representative plays: tragedies, comedies, histories, and romances.  Prerequisite: fulfillment of HML literature.  Every semester.

355 Studies in Individual Authors.  (2, 2. or 4)
Study of several works by one or two authors.  Works in translation acceptable.  When the course focuses on two authors, students may be able to register for either AB or CD mods, or both.  Fall.  Consult with Professor.

361 British Novel to 1900.  (4)
Longer prose fiction from Defoe to Eliot and Hardy.  Prerequisite: fulfillment of HML literature.  Fall, alternate years.

362 American Novel to 1920.  (4)
A selection of American novels to 1920.  Prerequisite: fulfillment of HML literature.  Spring, alternate years.

366 Studies in Modern Literature.  (4)
A selection of fiction, poetry, and/or other forms written in the twentieth century.  Consult the English Department Course Description Booklet for specific titles and descriptions.  Fall.

367 Studies in Contemporary Literature.  (4)
A selection of fiction, poetry and/or other forms written in the past 30-50 years.  Consult the English Description Booklet for specific titles and descriptions.  Prerequisite: fulfillment of HML literature.  Spring.

381 Literature by Women.  (4)
Selection of works written by women.  Prerequisite: fulfillment of HML literature.  Spring.

382 Multicultural Literature of the United States.  (4)
A study of literature from several of the ethnic, racial, and other groups that make up United States culture. Some attention to the historical and social contexts in which this literature arises.  Spring, alternate years.

383 Post-Colonial Literature.  (4)
A study of literature, partly in translation, from modern cultures with voices and perspectives other than our own, such as African, South and Central American, West Indian, and Middle Eastern.  Some attention to the cultural contexts in which this literature arises.  Prerequisite: fulfillment of HML.

385 Studies in Literature.  (4)
Study of a special topic.  Intended for subjects that are not readily treated in standard courses.  Consult the English Department Course Description Booklet for specific titles and descriptions

Theory & Culture

43 Literature, Theory, and Culture.  (4)
Introduction to literary and cultural theory.  Students apply theoretical texts or concepts to literary or cultural texts (e.g., novels, films, TV shows, popular arts, clothing, architecture, public spaces).  Fall.

286 Introduction to Film Studies.  (4)
Study of films illustrative of movements in the history of the art.  The vocabulary of cinematography.  Fall.

369 Studies in Critical Theory.  (4)
Study of selected critical theories and application, using such approaches.  Recommended for majors planning for graduate English studies.  Fall.

386 Studies in Film.  (4)
Study of films in the context of one or more critical theories.  Spring.

387 English Language.  (4)
Historical and modern linguistics, with emphasis on the latter.  Fall.

388 Studies in Popular Culture.
Critical reading of such popular arts and practices as film, tv, music, and newspapers, etc.  Fall, alternate years.

Capstone

365 Current Issues in Literary Studies.
Emphasizes ethical reasoning in exploring the debates that shape the changing discipline of English studies.  Writing assignments are designed to synthesize the experience of the English major and reflect on the values that inform the positions students take in disciplinary debates.  Spring.

Engl 397 Internship.  (8-12)
Integration of the skills of the English major, a liberal arts background, and the expectations of a career. Individually tailored by the student with the advice and approval of the department's internship advisor and the college's director of internships.  Four credits may be counted toward this requirement.  S/U grading only.

Honr 398: Honors Senior Essay, Research, or Creative Project.  (4)
Required for graduation with "All-College Honors" and "Departmental Distinction in English."  Prerequisite: HONR 396 and approval of the department chair and director of the honors program.  For further information see HONR 398.

Educ 362: Student Teaching 5-12.  (16)
Participants use classroom observation, information about students, and a strong knowledge base as sources for their teaching in 5-12 school settings.  Furthermore, they implement aspects of the "Teacher as a Decision Maker" conceptual model as well as aspects of the MN Graduation Standards.  Major goals of this experience are to have student teachers recognize and accept their responsibility to children and youth, to become reflective practitioners and to actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally.  Full-time, off-campus student teaching assignments are arranged by the Director of Secondary Student Teaching. Prerequisite: Successful completion of all major and Education courses and requirements and approval of the Director of Secondary Student Teaching.  Four credits may be counted toward the capstone requirement.

Students may also fulfill this requirement by submitting a petition to count an appropriate course in the major.  In special cases, the student may submit a petition to count a course outside the English Department which is closely related to his or her work in the major and fulfills the Capstone function.

Special Courses

271 Individual Learning Project.  (1-4)
Supervised reading or research at the lower-division level.  Permission of department chair required. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements.  Not available to first-year students.

371 Individual Learning Project.  (1-4)
Supervised reading or research at the upper-division level.  Permission of Department Chair and completion and/or concurrent registration of 12 credits within the Department required.  Consult department for applicability towards major requirements.  Not available to first-year students.